I have heard all kinds of talk over the years about the Remington Jam-O-Matic, but only ever seen one that did not function properly. Friend of mine in Anchorage, Alaska, has one that tears the extractor through the rim of every case, not with handloads using too slow a powder, but with factory ammo. I think it must have a lightly rusted chamber, although you would never know it looking at the brass after it has been punched out with a cleaning rod.
We have been having a good spell of cold weather here for the past week, as cold as -34C. Needed to replace the scope on the old 742, and figured this might be a good time to do an experiment. Headed to the range and let the rifle and a tray of 150 gr 30-06 handloads freeze up real good late this afternoon. It was -30C, and I am quite sure after being out of the case and exposed to that for more than an hour the rifle and ammo were both pretty close to that temperature. Could have waited longer, but I was finished shooting the other rifles, and was getting cold.
Started at 25 yd, and fired four rounds getting the scope perfectly dead on at that distance. No malfunction at all: fed, fired, extracted, ejected and reloaded without a hiccup. Set the rifle aside while I set up a target at 100 yd, loaded up the mag and fired at 100. Again, no malfunction at all, and the shots printed into less than an inch and a half.
The load was using Accurate 2495 powder, CCI 200 primers, and the 150 gr Hornady SST.
Two things, the rifle works perfectly at very low temperature, and 2495 powder obviously burns well even in extreme weather. I usually load with magnum primers for caribou hunting in very cold temps, but purposely used the 200s because I was trying to simulate factory ammo. There was no problem at all burning the powder. No unburned powder granules evident on the snow in front of the bench, like we see with some powders.
So, my experience is that the 742, kept clean and lightly oiled, works just fine, even in extremely cold weather. There was not so much as a hiccup up there today. I am not really too much of a semi-auto fan, but this one certainly works, and is more than accurate enough for hunting. In fact, now that I think about it, it might make a good wolf and coyote rifle!
Going to do this again, when it gets really cold! Interested in your thoughts and experience ....... either way.
Ted
We have been having a good spell of cold weather here for the past week, as cold as -34C. Needed to replace the scope on the old 742, and figured this might be a good time to do an experiment. Headed to the range and let the rifle and a tray of 150 gr 30-06 handloads freeze up real good late this afternoon. It was -30C, and I am quite sure after being out of the case and exposed to that for more than an hour the rifle and ammo were both pretty close to that temperature. Could have waited longer, but I was finished shooting the other rifles, and was getting cold.
Started at 25 yd, and fired four rounds getting the scope perfectly dead on at that distance. No malfunction at all: fed, fired, extracted, ejected and reloaded without a hiccup. Set the rifle aside while I set up a target at 100 yd, loaded up the mag and fired at 100. Again, no malfunction at all, and the shots printed into less than an inch and a half.
The load was using Accurate 2495 powder, CCI 200 primers, and the 150 gr Hornady SST.
Two things, the rifle works perfectly at very low temperature, and 2495 powder obviously burns well even in extreme weather. I usually load with magnum primers for caribou hunting in very cold temps, but purposely used the 200s because I was trying to simulate factory ammo. There was no problem at all burning the powder. No unburned powder granules evident on the snow in front of the bench, like we see with some powders.
So, my experience is that the 742, kept clean and lightly oiled, works just fine, even in extremely cold weather. There was not so much as a hiccup up there today. I am not really too much of a semi-auto fan, but this one certainly works, and is more than accurate enough for hunting. In fact, now that I think about it, it might make a good wolf and coyote rifle!
Going to do this again, when it gets really cold!
Interested in your thoughts and experience ....... either way.Ted
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